ID :
20204
Fri, 09/19/2008 - 18:00
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/20204
The shortlink copeid
Senate committee indicates 'strong desire' for N-deal: Dodd
Sridhar Krishnaswami
Washington, Sept 19 (PTI) Amidst uncertainty looming over
the India-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement, the ongoing
Senate's foreign relation committee has indicated "strong
desire" among the top U.S. lawmakers to get the deal approved
during the current Congress session ending on September 26.
"I think like the evidence in the past, there is strong
desire to reach agreement given the importance of this,"
acting chairman of the Foreign Relation Committee Christopher
Dodd said.
"Of course some members have reservations. There is an
opportunity to express and ask colleagues to approve or
disapprove the idea. As the acting chairman of this committee,
I want to ask my colleagues and members to do that," the
Connecticut senator said.
Dodd presided over the Senate Panel Thursday afternoon in
the absence of Senator Joe Biden who is currently in the
campaign trail by virtue of being the Democratic party's Vice
Presidential nominee.
He questioned three witnesses from the State Department
on all possible aspects of the agreement.
"... in the final analysis if the matter is brought up at
the end of the session and they (lawmakers) have not gone
through the process, they could very well create a perfect
storm to defeat it. So, it is going to be important to try and
give my colleagues with limited time, a chance to express
those views," Dodd told media persons after the hearing of the
Senate committee at Dirksen Building.
"The staff will be meeting tonight and tomorrow and try
to resolve those matters with the administration. So we are
going to utilise every minute of every day... with the goal in
mind of going through this process fairly, equitably and
simultaneously," Dodd said adding, one of the considerations
of the Senate and the House could be to have the civilian
nuclear agreement in the Continuing Resolution.
"Clearly it is a process that India appreciates
immensely" Dodd said.
In his opening remarks to the Senate Panel, Dodd said
that the agreement which was before the committee was not
perfect.
However, the "approval of this agreement will still be a
milestone in U.S.-Indian relations and to approve it," he
said. "In my view, we must. We would be well advised to
approve it this month, moreover, rather than waiting until
next year."
"I am still very confident that we are going to end up
with an agreement that is going to work to the satisfaction of
both countries," said the Senator.
When asked if some members of Congress would want to
introduce amendments calling for automatic cessation of
nuclear trade in case of nuclear test by India, the Democrat
said that he did not want to comment on the various proposals
the members might have, though he would not be too surprised
if someone offeres such proposal.
"Let me emphasise that there is a lot more involved in
this than just the specifics of the agreement. This is a
tremendously important relationship that is under distrust for
a generation and a half over this issue. And I, for one, would
like to see to take advantage of this opportunity to move
forward in the 21st century relationship. And an awful lot
rests on the outcome of this," he added.
Dodd also appreciated the effort made by the Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh to get the deal finalised before the
end of the tenure of the Congress.
"The Indians have wrestled with this and I have great
respect for what Prime Minister Singh has gone through in
order to achieve this result. There is probably a deeper
appreciation of the process in India than any place else in
the world," he said.
Expressing optimism about early passage of the agreement
Dodd said that the civilian nuclear deal had the prospect of
unravelling by way of amendments attached to it.
"We hope not," he shot back when asked if the process of
passage would require the whole 30-day session of the U.S.
Congress.
The Senate panel include Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs William Burns, the acting Under Secretary
for Arms Control and International Security John Rood
accompanied by Richard Stratford from the Bureau of
International security and Non-Proliferation in the State
Department.
Washington, Sept 19 (PTI) Amidst uncertainty looming over
the India-U.S. civilian nuclear agreement, the ongoing
Senate's foreign relation committee has indicated "strong
desire" among the top U.S. lawmakers to get the deal approved
during the current Congress session ending on September 26.
"I think like the evidence in the past, there is strong
desire to reach agreement given the importance of this,"
acting chairman of the Foreign Relation Committee Christopher
Dodd said.
"Of course some members have reservations. There is an
opportunity to express and ask colleagues to approve or
disapprove the idea. As the acting chairman of this committee,
I want to ask my colleagues and members to do that," the
Connecticut senator said.
Dodd presided over the Senate Panel Thursday afternoon in
the absence of Senator Joe Biden who is currently in the
campaign trail by virtue of being the Democratic party's Vice
Presidential nominee.
He questioned three witnesses from the State Department
on all possible aspects of the agreement.
"... in the final analysis if the matter is brought up at
the end of the session and they (lawmakers) have not gone
through the process, they could very well create a perfect
storm to defeat it. So, it is going to be important to try and
give my colleagues with limited time, a chance to express
those views," Dodd told media persons after the hearing of the
Senate committee at Dirksen Building.
"The staff will be meeting tonight and tomorrow and try
to resolve those matters with the administration. So we are
going to utilise every minute of every day... with the goal in
mind of going through this process fairly, equitably and
simultaneously," Dodd said adding, one of the considerations
of the Senate and the House could be to have the civilian
nuclear agreement in the Continuing Resolution.
"Clearly it is a process that India appreciates
immensely" Dodd said.
In his opening remarks to the Senate Panel, Dodd said
that the agreement which was before the committee was not
perfect.
However, the "approval of this agreement will still be a
milestone in U.S.-Indian relations and to approve it," he
said. "In my view, we must. We would be well advised to
approve it this month, moreover, rather than waiting until
next year."
"I am still very confident that we are going to end up
with an agreement that is going to work to the satisfaction of
both countries," said the Senator.
When asked if some members of Congress would want to
introduce amendments calling for automatic cessation of
nuclear trade in case of nuclear test by India, the Democrat
said that he did not want to comment on the various proposals
the members might have, though he would not be too surprised
if someone offeres such proposal.
"Let me emphasise that there is a lot more involved in
this than just the specifics of the agreement. This is a
tremendously important relationship that is under distrust for
a generation and a half over this issue. And I, for one, would
like to see to take advantage of this opportunity to move
forward in the 21st century relationship. And an awful lot
rests on the outcome of this," he added.
Dodd also appreciated the effort made by the Indian Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh to get the deal finalised before the
end of the tenure of the Congress.
"The Indians have wrestled with this and I have great
respect for what Prime Minister Singh has gone through in
order to achieve this result. There is probably a deeper
appreciation of the process in India than any place else in
the world," he said.
Expressing optimism about early passage of the agreement
Dodd said that the civilian nuclear deal had the prospect of
unravelling by way of amendments attached to it.
"We hope not," he shot back when asked if the process of
passage would require the whole 30-day session of the U.S.
Congress.
The Senate panel include Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs William Burns, the acting Under Secretary
for Arms Control and International Security John Rood
accompanied by Richard Stratford from the Bureau of
International security and Non-Proliferation in the State
Department.
